Improvement in apparatus for destroying the cutting ant



F. A. FENNE'R e; 1. H. POWER. Apparatus for Destroying the Cutting Ani. `1\4,u.1.6u6,267.

Patented Aug. 3,1875.

l W w mmm M? WITNESSES:

ATTUBNEYS.

MPEfPfIS. PuaTo-UTMOGRAPNER. WASHIN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND A. FENNER AND JOHN H. POWER, OF MISSION VALLEY, TEXAS.

`IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DESTROVING THE CUTTlNG ANT. i

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,67, dated August 3, 1875 5 application filed A May 2s, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FERDINAND A. FEN- NER and JOHN H. POWER, of Mission Valley, Victoria county, Texas, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Destroying the Cutting' Ant, of which the following is a speciication: I

The figure is a vertical section of our improved apparatus.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved apparatus for destroying the cutting ants in their nests, which shall be simple in construction,convenient and inexpensive in use, and effective in operation.

The invention consists in the hollow perforated cast-iron cylinder provided with the collar, the cover, and the pipe, to adapt the device for use in destroying ants, in substantially the manner hereinafter described.

A is a hollow cast-iron cylinder, about-three feet in length and about live inches in diameter. The bottom of the cylinderA is perforated with numerous, and the sides with occasional, perforations. Around' the cylinder A, at a little distance from its upper end, is formed a collar, B, about a foot in dialneter, the part of the cylinder A above the collar B serving as a liange to receive the closely litting cover C, D is a pipe about one and a halt' inch in diameter, the lower end of which is connected with the cylinder A, at or near its bottom. The pipe D passes up along the side of the cylinderA and passes through a hole in the collar. The pipe D rises above the collar B afoot or more, and inclines outward, so that its upper end, when the device is in use, may be eight or ten inches from the ground. The upper end of the pipe D is enlarged to receive the nozzle of a blacksmiths bellows. rIhe cylinderA is provided with a bail, E, for convenience in lowering it into and raising' it out of the ground.

In using the apparatus, the main cell of the ants7 nest is found by means ot an iron probe ot' vsuitable length', and a holc about eight inches in diameter is sunk to such a depth that its lower end may be a little below l the lowest cell. The cylinder A is then lowered into it, the collar B resting upon the surface of the ground and closing the mouth ot' said hole. A lire is then vbuilt in the cylinder A, of wood, charcoal, or other suitable fuel, and a blast of air is forced into it by a bellows connected with the end of pipe D. When the tire is fully kindled, six or eight pounds ot' sulphur are poured into the cylinder A, and the cover O is put on. The bellows is then worked for from Athirty to forty-five minutes, which forces the fumes of the sulphur through all the cells and passages of the ant-nest and kills all the ants ot' the colon y.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The perforated and closely-covered cylinder A, provided with a pipe, D, having one end attached to its lower end, rising up the side through a collar, B, and bent outwardly thereabove, as and for the purpose specified.

FERDINAND A. FENNER. JOHN H. POWER. 

